Ephesus: The 8th International Ephesus Opera and Ballet Festival is set to captivate audiences from June 27 to July 13 at the ancient theater in Ephesus, located in Aegean Trkiye, as announced by the country's Culture and Tourism Ministry. The festival, organized by the State Opera and Ballet, promises a series of extraordinary performances in a historically rich setting.

According to Anadolu Agency, the festival will commence with the renowned ballet Swan Lake, presented by the Izmir State Opera and Ballet on June 27 and 28. The performance, directed by Tolga Tavis, will feature renowned dancers Daniil Simkin from the American Ballet Theatre and Berlin State Ballet, along with Berlin honorary dancer Iana Salenko. The event will be set against the backdrop of the ancient Ephesus amphitheater, one of the best-preserved ancient cities globally, located near the town of Sel§uk in coastal Izmir.

The festival will also include a diverse lineup of classic and contemporary productions. On July 2, Mozart's The Abduction from the Seraglio will be performed by the Mersin State Opera and Ballet, under the direction of Caner Akin with Orkhan Hashimov conducting. Carl Orff's Carmina Burana is scheduled for July 5, performed by the Izmir State Opera and Ballet, conducted by Vladimir Lungu with Orhan Oner Ozcan directing the choir.

Further enriching the festival, the opera Forbidden Love, based on Halit Ziya Usakligil's novel, will be staged on July 8 by the Antalya State Opera and Ballet. The music director for this production is Hakan Kalkan, with Reyhan Sume directing. Another highlight will be Verdi's La Traviata on July 11, presented by the Samsun State Opera and Ballet with support from the Izmir State Opera and Ballet Orchestra. Notably, Serbian baritone Zeljko Lucic will make a guest appearance as Giorgio Germont.

For younger audiences, a special children's show, Sekeronya, will be held on June 29 at the Bornova Culture and Art Center, presented by the Izmir State Opera and Ballet. The festival will draw to a close on July 13 with a performance of the ballet Zorba the Greek by the Ankara State Opera and Ballet.